HAWK TALK
IN MEMORY OF DANNY BAUER
1/12/1981 - 1/23/2016
My brother Danny was one of the funniest and most musically talented people I’ve ever known. When I think back to the times he made an entire room burst into hysterical laughter or the moments he played his guitar and captivated an entire room, it was clear that Danny had something truly special.
From a young age, he took classical guitar lessons, and by his teenage years, he was playing at a professional level. When we both still lived at home with our parents, I remember hearing him play upstairs on his little practice amp. Watching his musical growth over the years was nothing short of astounding.
When it came to comedy, Danny could have easily been on Saturday Night Live. For years, he performed hilarious, improvised stand-up routines at our local bar. It was incredible how polished and funny his routines were, even though most of it was made up on the spot. His mind was so quick, sharp, and naturally witty. Danny was a wild man with a wild sense of humor and a remarkable gift for making people laugh like no one else could.
But, as is often the case with brilliance, it came with its struggles. What began as recreational fun eventually turned into hard drug use, culminating in a serious addiction that took his life. In his later years, Danny was in and out of treatment. During his final year, he voluntarily checked into a mental hospital, where a doctor diagnosed him with bipolar disorder and clinical depression—mental illnesses he had unknowingly lived with for over 20 years. As his brother, I had always sensed he was tormented by something within himself. Drugs became an escape from the pain that only he could feel.
Danny’s passing left a wound in me, my family, and our friends that has never fully healed. Nine years later, it still feels like something is missing. His death became the catalyst and inspiration for Ghost Hawk Brewing and everything I’ve done since.
Danny had a deep love for birds, especially red-tailed hawks. He even had multiple hawk tattoos and considered the hawk his spirit animal. Over time, it became mine as well. That love for hawks began during our childhood, hiking and camping in the woods with our dad. Danny’s spirit was the inspiration behind the Ghost Hawk name. You can read more about our story here.
One of his tattoos, which he was incredibly proud of, featured the head of a hawk with a ribbon underneath that read “Hawk Talk.” It reflected his love for hawks and his sense of humor and irony—he talked about hawks so much, even to strangers. To honor him, I had the original tattoo design redrawn by the artist (@piffdoom at Jinx Proof Tattoo in Montclair, NJ).
Since Danny’s birthday and death both fall in January, I’ve made it an annual tradition to hold a fundraiser in his name. From 2021 to 2023, we relabeled 20 cases of our flagship Apex Predator NEIPA as “Hawk Talk” each year. Starting in 2024 and beyond, we’re dedicating a full batch of a brand-new NEIPA... the 2025 batch was brewed with Chinook, Azacca, Alora & Nelson Sauvin hops. This beer will be available at our taproom and throughout New Jersey at bars, restaurants, and liquor stores while supplies last.
Proceeds from the sale of these cans will be donated in Danny’s name to The Raptor Trust in Millington, NJ. The Raptor Trust does incredible work rehabilitating injured birds like hawks, eagles, and vultures, releasing them back into the wild.
I would trade this brewery in a heartbeat to have Danny back, but I know that’s not possible. Instead, I’ll continue to honor the man who was so much more than the addiction that claimed his life. I’ll see him again someday, in the next world, when my time comes. Until then, I hope you’re watching all of this, dude. I miss you, DB.